Dating to the early 1960s, this Ford Aeronutronic Division film shows a prototype mobile command and control outpost, AN/MSQ-19, which would also contain the Army’s first mobile computer system. The film was apparently made to promote the system within the Army and/or Congress, which funded the program. The U.S. Army Tactical Operations Central AN/MSQ-19 was apparently an outgrowth of the AN/MSQ-1A, a Close Support Control Set for the Martin MGM-1 Matador ground launched cruise missile which was developed by the Reeves Instrument Corp., with display systems provided by Philco. The film shows staff working in a prototype unit, which was almost certainly not fully functional. At (2:06) input devices such as s teletype / typewriter called Tactun and a map graph system which furnish data, called Grapton, are shown as well as a computer called the “MOBIDIC B” (short for “MOBIle DIgital Computer”). An “automatic slide generator” converts the input data into visual material (2:17), and displays it for commanders and staff both inside the command center. The same visuals are provided to staff at other remote locations through vacuum tube distribution. At (2:32) one of the major components / buildings of the system are shown as well as artist impression of the full system, which would consist of multiple power and memory trucks, teletype unit, and other components. (The full system according to a U.S. Army book would have consisted of MOBIDIC B computer, Screening Annex, Operations Control, Mass Memory, Switchboard, Maintenance Center, Operations and Communications Center units.) At (3:10) the teletype center is shown and a demonstration of a typical message delivery is demonstrated. At (3:29) a message is delivered concerning enemy activities, with the message automatically sent to various departments using a group projector (4:04). At (4:29) the operator inputs the message into the Tactun computer system.Hits transmit key (5:05). At (5:32) a moving stylus called a Grafton is used to draw up an attack plan. At (6:50) slides are automatically generated for the system. At (7:09) slides move through pneumatic tubes to their destination. At 7:29, in a simulated battle scenario, the commander and his staff review material on the group display. The display allows a rapid assessment of the situation, and can even be used to predict nuclear fallout danger zones (9:24), should a nuclear weapon be employed. The film ends with a look at the modern battlefield, and assesses how the presence of this type of sophisticated, mobile command and control center can influence the course battle.

According to reports published in 1964, the AN/MSQ-1A program, also known as ARTOC, ran over four years (1960-64) and cost over $25 million in taxpayer money before it was abandoned. The final system was tested at Fort Leavenworth in an exercise called “Operation Major Domo” starting in February, 1964. In the end, whatever its capabilities, the system was apparently deemed unwieldy, and would have required at least five tractor trailers to haul, plus additional large trucks to haul eight electrical generators and additional portable buildings to house the operators. (The MOBIDIC B computer system alone required two, 2.5 ton trucks and a van to move.)

Sylvania’s MOBIDIC was a transistorized computer intended to store, sort and route information as one part of the United States Army’s Fieldata concept. Fieldata aimed to automate the distribution of battlefield data in any form, ensuring the delivery of reports to the proper recipients regardless of the physical form they were sent or received. MOBIDIC was mounted in the trailer of a semi-trailer truck, while a second supplied power, allowing it to be moved about the battlefield. The MOBIDIC B featured dual CPUs for increased reliability and weighed about 12,000 pounds.

Aeronutronic Systems, Inc. was formed as a subsidiary of Ford in 1956 under the leadership of G.J. Lynch. The group was originally organized to develop and manufacture products for military purposes in the fields of Complete Weapons Systems, Aeronautics, Electronics, Computers, and Nucleonics and Physics. By 1959, the group was a made a division of Ford.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com